Health & Medicine

How will proceed quickly and efficiently recover?When will resume movement in affected limbs?whether the patient is able to speak normally?Consider all the important questions about the causes, consequences and rehabilitation after a stroke.

After a stroke patient and his relatives have many questions and concerns about how quickly and rehabilitation will proceed effectively.When will resume movement in affected limbs?whether the patient is able to speak normally?Is an independent life is gone forever from strangers?

«It is very difficult to accurately predict the extent to which to restore the broken functions of the body after a stroke," - says Dr. Randy M. Black Schafer, head of stroke treatment program at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston (Massachusetts, USA).She argues that the most important are the first few weeks of recovery.It proceeds faster than the less damage inflicted.

According to the recommendations of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the amount

of recovery of functional ability after stroke depends on the following factors: the type of stroke, the volume of brain lesions, the patient's age and speed of start of rehabilitation measures.

Dr. Black Schaefer advises patients and their relatives like to know more about the causes of stroke can be.That is what will help prevent health problems in the future.To understand what is expected in the next few months after an illness or even years, it is important to ask your doctor the core issues.

1. What stroke

reason in 80% of cases of stroke, occurs when a sudden cessation of cerebral blood flow.Usually it is blood clots, or other reasons.This is called an ischemic stroke.When you break the vessel and bleeding into brain tissue develops a hemorrhagic stroke.

determining the type of stroke, you can together with your doctor to identify the exact cause of the disease.For example, ischemic stroke may occur in violation of the patency of atherosclerotic plaques - deposition of cholesterol on the wall of the vessel and a mixture of other blood fats.

stroke risk of this type is particularly high in people with atherosclerosis, i.e. sealing the blood vessel walls.

most common cause of hemorrhagic stroke is high blood pressure - hypertension.If the patient is present both states simultaneously, the risk of stroke increases several times.

2. What is the risk of recurrent stroke

In general, the risk of re attack is highest immediately after a stroke.3% of stroke survivors is repeated within one month, and one-third of the victims celebrated a second attack in the next 2 years.

Dr. Black Shafer explains that each patient's set of risk factors for recurrence of attack is individual.That's why communication with your doctor is vital for the patient: it helps to identify the cause of the disease and draw up their plan of liquidation.

most important risk factor, and the number one cause in the development of stroke is high blood pressure.The likelihood of attack also increases heart disease, high blood cholesterol, or diabetes mellitus.In addition, we should not forget about such harmful habits such as smoking and alcohol abuse, physical inactivity and obesity, non-medication.

3. How to reduce the risk of stroke in the future

Talk with your doctor about how to control blood pressure and to cope with other diseases that bother you.Also discuss issues relating to the proper way of life.This is a healthy diet, not smoking, maintaining a normal weight and regular exercise.

The greatest gift that you can do for your health is to give up cigarettes.Stopping smoking greatly reduces the risk of stroke in the first two years and 5 years of disease probability becomes the same as that of a healthy person.

4. How is the rehabilitation after stroke

Despite the fact that the program of rehabilitation after a stroke is always built individually tailored to the needs of each patient, it necessarily involves certain steps.After stabilization of the general condition of the patient begins to perform special exercises with the help of medical staff.The purpose of training is to restore the basic functions such as the ability to feed himself or dress.

Another patient in the hospital is important to start visiting the department of rehabilitation medicine.After discharge, employment should continue on an outpatient basis in a clinic or at home.The only way to achieve the maximum recovery of the disturbed functions of the organism.

Formally, for rehabilitation after a stroke goes from 3 to 6 months.However, according to studies, the longer patients are trained, the more progress they can achieve recovery.

5. What kind of specialists are engaged in rehabilitation after stroke

normal restoration of patients after the disease has been a team of doctors, which includes:

physiotherapist that helps to regain strength and balance needed to walk and independence of activities;

ergotherapist who works with such daily activities as eating, bathing and dressing;

therapist who deals with restoration of speech and swallowing skills.

If necessary, and others are connected to the rehabilitation process.Regular communication with your doctor will help to correct the recovery plan.

6. How long does rehabilitation after stroke

recovery from stroke occurs in every patient differently.Despite the fact that in the lung injury of the nervous system restoration can be rapid, often this process continues throughout the rest of their lives.

According to Dr. Black-Schaffer, the key to recovery lies in the daily exercises and training.

7. Do a stroke

risk of depression after stroke often occurs in patients depression.It is believed that the reason for its occurrence lies in the biochemical changes in the brain.This is an absolutely normal reaction to the damage caused by stroke.

However, regardless of the cause, depression is required to be treated.Fortunately, medications and work with a therapist can cope with it.In order to recognize the depression, it is important to ask your doctor about the possible symptoms of this disorder.

8. What medications should be taken and whether they cause side effects

The most common stroke cause blood clots, or blood clots in the vessels of the brain.Therefore, most likely, the doctor will prescribe anticoagulant or antithrombotic drugs that thin the blood and prevent the occurrence of blood clots.Also, drugs may need to reduce the pressure or high cholesterol or treatment of heart disease and diabetes.

sure to talk with your doctor about your medicines designated to understand why they are needed.Ask the doctor about possible side effects or interactions with food and other drugs.To comply with the treatment regimen, make a list of medications, indicating their name, dose and time of administration.

9. When you need to consult a doctor

If you experience any of the following symptoms, do not delay, call an ambulance.Procrastination is unacceptable: stroke every minute lost can cost you your life.